Manchester City 1-0 Stoke: Toure banishes Barca Blues to get title chase back on course

After being humbled by Barcelona in the Champions League, Manchester City returned to winning ways to keep their Premier League title chase on course with a 1-0 victory over Stoke City at the Etihad Stadium.

City had failed to score in three of their last four games and the omens were not optimistic after a lacklustre first-half finished goalless.

Manuel Pellegrini brought on Jeses Navas and Stevan Jovetic in the second half as City attempted to break down Stoke's stubborn defence - but it was Yaya Toure who finally netted on 70minutes with his 16th goal of the season.

Edin Dzeko had a golden opportunity to double the lead only minutes later but somehow conspired to miss what looked a certain goal.

The result leaves City three points behind league leaders Chelsea, although Manuel Pellegrini's side have a game in hand.

Leap of joy: Yaya Toure (top) jumps into Aleksander Kolorov's arms after breaking the deadlock
Twinkle toes: Toure (R) dances through the Stoke defence to open the scoring in the second half
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Twinkle toes: Toure (R) dances through the Stoke defence to open the scoring in the second half
City slickers: David Silva (L) raises his arms as the ball crosses the line past Stoke's Asmir Begovic
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City slickers: David Silva (L) raises his arms as the ball crosses the line past Stoke's Asmir Begovic
Clincher: Toure (R) wheels after his goal kept Manchester City within touching distance of leaders Chelsea
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Clincher: Toure (R) wheels after his goal kept Manchester City within touching distance of leaders Chelsea

Brothers in arms: Yaya Toure, Aleksander Koloro (R), and Samir Nasri (L) celebrate at the Etihad
 

MATCH FACTS

MANCHESTER CITY: Hart 6; Zabaleta 6, Kompany 5.5, Demichelis 6.5, Kolarov 6; Nasri 6, Fernandinho 6.5 (Navas 63, 6.5), Toure 8, Silva 7.5; Dzeko 4.5, Negredo 5 (Jovetic 56, 5, Garcia 69, 6).

Subs: Pantilimon, Lescott, Clichy, Milner.

Scorer: Toure 70

Booked: Kompany, Fernandinho, Dzeko

STOKE: Begovic 6.5; Cameron 5.5, Shawcross 6.5, Wilson 7, Pieters 6; Whelan 6.5 (Etherington 82, 5), Adam 6.5; Odemwingie 5.5, Walters 6 (Ireland 78, 5.5), Arnautovic 6 (Palacios 69, 6); Crouch 7.

Subs: Sorensen, Muniesa, Nzonzi, Wilkinson.

Booked: Adam

Referee: Chris Foy 7

Man of the match: Yaya Toure

Manuel Pellegrini: 6.5

Mark Hughes: 6

Player ratings from CHRIS WHEELER at the ETIHAD STADIUM


Go...oh! Edin Dzeko had a golden opportunity to double City's lead late in the game

Doh! Edin Dzeko (C) somehow manged to comically miss from only a yard out

Crowded house: Stoke's Charlie Adam (3L) makes an attempt to break the deadlock

Tall story! City midfielder Yaya Toure battles for the ball against Stoke's Peter Crouch (R)

Safe hands: Manchester City keeper Joe Hart prepares for a Stoke free-kick

French fancy: Stoke midfielder Charlie Adam chases Manchester City's Samir Nasri

Heavy tackle: Unable to catch him, Charlie Adam takes down Samir Nasri from behind

Why? Stoke manager Mark Hughes questions the Fourth Official during the game at the Etihad

Crying foul! Jonathan Walters of Stoke City on the ground after being taken down during a goalless first half

For Pete's sake! Stoke striker Odemwingie (L) shields the ball from City enforcer Yay Toure

Scrappy: Stoke's Charlie Adam and Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany battle for the ball

Little magician: Geoff Cameron of Stoke City tries to keep pace with City playmaker David Silva

Under pressure: Managers Mark Hughes and his counterpart Manuel Pellegrini watch from the sidelines


Eyes wide shut: Glenn Whelan of Stoke City shoots past Manchester City defender Aleksandar Kolarov (R)

Tat's the way to do it! An enthusiastic Manchester City fan arrives at the Etihad ahead of the game